STEPHENVILLE, TX: The Texas Wesleyan University women's basketball team (6-2) challenged NCAA DII Tarleton State University (1-1) in a 78-70 exhibition loss at Wisdom Court on Saturday.
 
The Lady Rams grabbed a 7-2 lead to start, capped by a Kashyla Fields jumper about three minutes into the game. Wesleyan extended the lead later in the first half on a Katelynn Threats bucket to make it 15-8. The TexAnns protected home court though, making a 9-2 run to tie the game at 17-17 midway through the first half.
 
The two teams jockeyed for the lead until Tarleton State rallied on an 11-0 run to take a commanding 35-24 lead late in the half. The TexAnns took a 38-28 lead into the break after shooting 52 percent from the floor, while the Lady Rams posted 41 percent.
 
The TexAnns maintained the lead into the second half, keeping the Lady Rams at bay. The Lady Rams answered the Tarleton State offense, but had a hard time chipping away at the lead. Texas Wesleyan started to swing momentum in their favor with a Stacey Darnley three pointer that cut the lead to 55-48 with nine minutes remaining in the game. Fields followed that with a shot from downtown to make it a 55-51 game.
 
Tarleton State weathered the blows for a bit, but Darnley notched another triple to keep the Lady Rams within range at 63-59. The TexAnns were kept their cool though, connecting on two three pointers to push the lead back out to 69-59 with five minutes left. The Lady Rams went on a 5-0 rally capped by a pair of Onyesonam Nolisa free throws to make it 75-68, but ran out of time, dropping the game 78-70.
 
Texas Wesleyan shot 52 percent from the floor in the second half showing some good resolve by fighting back against a good Tarleton State team. The Rams shot 46 percent from the floor overall.
 
Darnley led the Lady Rams with 18 points. Fields posted 13 points. Nolisa had 13 points and nine boards in the game. Threats tallied 10 points and seven rebounds on the night.
 
Texas Wesleyan will continue in non-conference play in a game against Texas Woman's University on Tuesday, November 25 starting at 7:00 pm.